Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Comprehensive Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fitchburg hires consultant to rewrite comprehensive plan, zoning code and subdivision ordinance
Summary
The Plan Commission approved a contract with consultant House, Seal & Levine to lead an 18‑month comprehensive‑plan update followed by a zoning and subdivision rewrite; staff said the process will include community engagement and that the commission will review the community engagement plan.
Fitchburg finalized a contract on June 16 with House, Seal & Levine (HL) to update the city’s comprehensive plan, rewrite the zoning code and include a subdivision‑ordinance rewrite. Staff said the firm was selected from multiple respondents to an RFP and the combined work will be staged: the comprehensive plan first (targeted 18 months) and the zoning/subdivision rewrite next (another ~18 months), with opportunities for public engagement throughout.
City staff emphasized benefits of a single, form‑based code and said they expect to consolidate Fitchburg’s two existing zoning ordinances into one unified ordinance. Staff also added funds to the contract for outside legal review of the new zoning code to supplement city attorney review.
Public commenter David Hayden raised concerns about plan‑commission authority, arguing the commission should not be sidelined in capital planning and plan amendment processes; he asked the commission to request a written city‑attorney opinion clarifying the commission’s authority to propose plan amendments. Staff and commissioners discussed the forthcoming community engagement plan (which, under state law, must be approved by plan commission and council) and said staff will return with the engagement plan and regular meeting updates.
Timeline and next steps: staff said a community‑engagement plan will be the first deliverable and that the team will hold visioning, scenario modeling and policy drafting before returning with draft plan text. Staff noted the consultant will be present for public meetings; the contract and first public steps are now authorized.
Why it matters: The multi‑year process frames Fitchburg’s growth strategy and zoning rules. The rewrite could change development review procedures, design standards and which applications require commission review. Commission members and the public will have repeated opportunities to shape the final products.
